Ore-concentrator



u e e h S m e e h s 4 m UT A m w N H m 0 0 EB .R 0 a. w I o "L Patented Apr. 6, 1897.

INVENTUEL WITNESSES fl/l/faMu (No Model.) 4 SheetsS i ee'15 2.

- G. E. WOODBURY.

ORB OONGBNTRATOR.

Patented Apr.'6, 1897.

(No Model.)

0 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. G. ELWOODBURY. ORE GONGBNTRATOR.

N0. 580,030. Patented Apr. 0, I897,

[i I All WITNESSES 4- $02 INVENTUH.

(1001001181. 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

0. E. WOODBURY. ORB UONGHNTRATOR.

N0. 580,030. Patented Apr. 6, 1897'.

WITNESSES.

Unrrnn Srniras FFICE.

arena GRE-COiiCi-ENTRATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,030, dated April 6, 1897. Application filed July 19, 1894. Serial No. 518,008. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. Woonnunv, a citizen of the United States, residingin the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ore-Concentrators; and I do hereby d eclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to ore-concentrating machines of that ciassin which the concentrating-surface is an endless belt or apron having a vibratory movement in connection or combination with a longitudinal movement of progression.

One description of machine in the class mentioned has the vibratory movement imparted in a longitudinal direction, or with the progression, andvis commonly known as an end shake machine, while another description has the vibratory motion or shake across the machine, and is known as a sideshake machine. tis to the latter description of machine in this class that my improved concentrator belongs and to which its novcl points and features of construction specially relate.

The said improvements comprise certain novel construction of stationary frame, a novel means of supporting and opcratingthe shaking-frame, and a novel means for turning up the sides of the concentrator-belt; also certain novel construction of feeder and distributor for the pulp, and, finally, certain details of COIlSiLlLlChlOll,2lll as liercinai'lerl'uily described, and pointed out in the claims.

The following description explains at length the nature of my said improvements and the mariner in which the same are combined and applied in'ihe production of an improveifl machine, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

Figure l oi the drawings is a side elevation of a concentraibig-machine containing and constructed according to my said improvel isalongitudinalsection,onan

1 him. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the ninrliinc. l'ig. I} is a vertical transverse section on the line J} 4', Fig. 2. l' ig. 4' is a transverse section. on the line a: a, Fig. '2. 5 is a detail of one of the belt-carrying rollers and its loosely-revolvinghead 13,01 the hopper and a portion oi" at one end, the belt and the revolving head being shown in section. Fig. (3 is a transverse section taken on the line y 3/, Fig 2. Fig. 7 is a plan, on an enlarged scale, of the distributing-tray. Fig. 8 is aview in section, on an enlarged scale, of the ends of the spring-legs and their fastcnings.

The present machine is built Oil iillQ general plan of a concentrator of the same type that was patented to me on 'the 29th day of December, 1S0l,Leiters Patent No. 465,979, but differing from that machine materially, both in simplicity of construction, Weight of parts, costof building and setting up, and particularly in the workrequired in handling and running. it also contains several improved features of construction over that machine, especially as regards the stationary frame, the bolt carrying and driving mechanism, and the pulp-feeding apparatus.

The stationary frame is composed of the four posts or standards A, set one at each corner, and the top rails l3 l3 and side rails or tierods B that join the four posts togcthcr in a light and still frame, in and upon which all the working parts are supported. This frame is easily taken apart and packed in small compass, the pieces separated being of convenient size and weight to be transported over rough roads and into localities 0rdinarily inaccessible where large heavypieces could not be carried.

Each one of the our posts is cast hollow and square in cross-section, with one side open, and on the bottom a broad foot-flange (15 to fasten the post downto the bed-timbers X, on which the frame is set. The open sides of these four posts face inward, and within the rec of each post fixed a spring I), having straight lop and bottom portions LZX and a curved middle portion (Z similar in shape to an ogee curve, uniting the straight ends. 011 these four springs is mounted the shaking-frame that carries and gives motion t0v the concentraior-belt, and each spring is rig-- idly hxcd at the lower end in the recess of the post and at the upper end is secured in the same rigid manner to the side bar of the sliding frame.

A block 1), with a perpendicular slot (1 in the top lo receive the end of the spring-leg, "is lined \viL-hin'the recess of the post by a bolt l), passing through the block and through the inserted end of the leg and also-through shaking-frame by a bolt and nut d a slot in the front of the post, so that the same bolt serves to secure the end of theleg in the block and to hold the blockin the post. This constitutes the means of holding and fixing the lower end of the leg, while its upper end is! directly 'secured to the side bar of tlfie T e curved portion of the leg springs inwardly from the straight bottom portion on a regular c irve to the center and thence reversely with an equal curve into the Straight top portion, so that the top end of the leg is brought in-- ward and at a suflicient'distance away from the back of the recess in the post to allow the upper end of the leg and the side bar of the frame to clear the post in the sidewise vibration ofthe frame. This is one object secured by this double-curve center, but the main object or purpose of the construction is to bring the spring or lateral. movement of the leg fromthe ends and confine it to or cause it to take place at the middle portion only, whereby the fastenings at the ends and also the stiff ends of the leg itself are relieved from the strains and vibrations of the lateral movement. Where these spring-supports are made of Wood, as-in the present machine and I also in my former patent, it is important to patent-that object is attained by reducing'the relieve the-fastenings at the ends and also to prevent. the leg itself atthe fastenings from sustaining-the vibrations, and in my former thieknessoft-he leg at the middle portion to increase the resilience in that part over the ends.

, Inthepresent-construction the desired objectsare secured without weakening the leg and the lateral motion or spring of the leg is confined entirely to the middle portion. These .legsare-v'made of flat bars of hardwood, such as, hickory, of. the same thickness for the whole length, steamed and bent to shape. Beneath the block D, I set a wedge D through anopening madein the post at (1?, with the head of the wedge standing outside the post and the point resting on a rib or shelf a cast in the recess of the post. By loosening the bolt 1) that holds-the'block and driving in the wedge the lower end of the spring-leg is set up and the frame E E is raised at one side orthe other for the purpose of adjusting it toa level position. ,lVhen the legs are thus properly set, the bolts D are tightened and the.blocks D clamped in the post.

; .In-setting'up the stationary frame the flat top. rail at each end joins the two posts and is fastened down to the tops of the posts by lag'iscrews while the-two sets of posts are joined along the sides of the frame by the tierods.. Within this frame is set the belt-carrying frame,-composed of the side rails E E and,

cross bars F F at the ends.

Suitable strength and stiffness withamininmm amount of weight are secured by using channel-iron for the side rails and tuhinggor thecross-bars. Boxes 9 9 are fixed along thmtops of the side rails for the spindles of rollers G that carry the concentrating-belt, J

and adjustable brackets or hangers H, carrying boxes H on the ends, are secured to the ends of both side rails for the axles of the '(lrumsor larger rollers I, over which the belt passes at the ends of the shaking-frame.

These hangers are "held and adjusted longitudinally to regulate the tension-of the beltside of the stationary frame, and this shaft,

extending from one post to the, other along one side of the frame, has the cranks fixed on the ends outside the posts, andalso a beltpulley K set at some'point between the ends to take a driving-belt from a power-shaft. A

pitman N from each crank is connected to the middle of the cross-bar, and the two cranks" are set in line, so that the motion produced is equal at both ends of the frame.

Provision is made for varying the length of throw of the cranks by fixing thecrank-pinQ on a slide settin g in a groove across thejface of a disk L, fast-on slide being held by a screw ;workingthrdhgh a slotin the slide. The length of throw-gen erally used is about two inches, but-some conditions or charaeter'of ores that are found to requirc'greater'oriessmgree ofshske in the frame sometimes call for achange in thethe 'en'd'of the shaftithe throw of the cranks, and for that purpose this adjustable crank is employed.

The longitudinal movement or progression, commonly termed the feed, of the beltis produced from the crank-shaft by a system of counter-shafts, pulleys, and belts, the arrangement of which will be better understood by referring to Figs. land 3 of the. drawings. in g-blocks p on the timbers ofthe stationary frame at the head of the machine, is driven from the crank-shaft by pulleys p and a belt 17 Cone-pulleys are used for the purpose of varying the speed of the counter-shaft. This counter-shaft gives a continuous but slower motion to a sprocket-pulley R, mounted on a stud or short shaft on the post, and alink belt from this pulley is carried up to a sprocket- A short counter-shaft P, inbear wheel R fast on the axle of the drum I at the head of the machine. Motion-is given to the sprocket-pulley by a worm S'on the countershaft and a worm-wheel The looscly-rotatingrollers that supportthe v on the axle on hub of the sprocket-whee], the worm-wheel being connected to the sprocket-wheelb a acting portion of the concentrating-belt in the shaking-frame are of peculiar construction, the novel point or feature therein consisting of a loosely and independently revolving conical head G on each end of the roller for turning up and holding in raised positiona portion of the belt along each side from the edge inward a suitable distance to produce a standing side along the top or acting portion of the belt.

' The object of my present construction is mainly to prevent the wear of the belt along that portion of the edge which is turned up by the head and suchexce'ssive wear as is produced where the conical head is fast on'or is an integral part of the roller, for in that form of roller the surface of the conical head at the portion of the greatest circumference necessarily travels at greater speed than the surface of the roller, and the result .of this is to make a rubbing contact instead of a rolling contact with that portion of the belt which travels on the rim or outer end of the conical head. y

In the present construction, by which I remove the rubbing contact and materially increase the life and durability of the belt, I make a conical head, either of wood or metal, with a hub G fitted over the end of the roller to turn smoothly and easily, and a conical body, formed of'a continuous flange G, extending from the inner end of the hub and from the circumference of the roller upward and outward over the hub, so that when the head is set upon the roller it forms a flaring conical he'ad. Overthe end of the roller and against the outer end of the hub, which is finished flat an v smooth, a collar G held by belt with the surface at the outer or largerend of the cone. The height of this raised side C or the amount of the .belt 0 turned a set-screw G s'fitted after the head is slipped on to keep the head from running back under the lateral pressure of the belt; but while acting to confine it against moving longitudinally on the roller this collar does not prevent the head from revolving, so that it turns freely on the roller under the contact of the up by the conical head, is regulated by shifting the position of the head outward or inward on the roller, which is readily done by loosening the screw in the collar and then moving the head on the roller a greater or less amount to produce the desired height of raised side.

The concentrating-belt 0 travels over these rollers and around the drums at the ends of the shakingframe, returning under the frame,

where it is guided by three sets of rollers, one of which, M, commonly termed the depression-roller, is located near'the head of the machine and at suitable distance below the shaking-frame to bring the surface of the belt into a washing-tank Y, containing water, while the other rollers-T," placed at'intervals between the depression-roller and the drum at the tail of the machine, are arranged to keep the belt under sufficient tension to prevent slip and consequent irregular feed of the belt.

The depression-rollcr M is mounted in hangers M bolted to the side bars E, and the tension rollers T are journale'd in shorter hangers T, capable of being shifted along the side bars into positions nearer to or farther from the druins at the ends of the ffiame.

The belt is formed without permanentlyraised'or standing sides, as the loosely-revolving heads of therollcrs turn up the edges of the belt along the entire working length thereof and hold them at proper angle to the flat concentrating-surface, and consequent] y the entire surface of the belt from one side to the other will be flat and run evenly over the drums at the ends and the carrying-rollers under the framewithout any difference in the tension or in pulling strain upon the edges or side portions over the main body of the bcl t.

In this machine. the pulp is distributed across the belt below the head or upper end of thefranie by means of a-stationary feeding-in hopper V, which is mounted over the belt and upon the lower end of the stationary.

frame, a distributing box or tray 7, supported from the stationary frame at the opposite end, and a sluice-box U, connecting the hopper and distributor together. These parts have a pitch or inclination downward from the lower toward the higher end of the concentrating-belt and maybe supported from the top rails of' the stationary frame, as shown in Fig: 1, for example, in which the hopper is held at the required height above the belt by legs B on the top rail, and the outer end of the distributing'tray is supported from the top rail at that+end by the arms 13, bolted .to the sides of the tray and to the rail.

In the hopper- V, which is box shape with flaring sides V and end V I set a screen V on a level with the top of the sluice-box U and at the sameinclination, and across the open end V of the hopper and upon the sides of the sluiee' I fix a shear-box V from one side V of the hopper across the opening and pro-I matter and articles and rubbish as commonly find their way into 'the pulp from the mill and are often a source of annoyance and a cause of interruption inrunning the mach-inc and 'oftenti mes productive of injury to the feeding apparatus and the belt.

The sluice-box U connects the distributingtray with the hopper; This tray 7, at the lower en d is constructed with a number of narrow partitions \V', arranged in divergent manncr from the outlet end of the sluice regularly outward and down ward to the end of the tray, dividing the tray into several separate channels or eonducting-passages. The outlet or discharging ends V of these channels are considerably greater in width than the months or receiving ends at the sluice, and they are so arranged that the pulp asit comes from' the sluice is divided as nearly as practicable intostreams or portions of equal quantity, and these streams are distributed across the surface ofthe belt at uniform distances apart.

The quantity of pulp entering any one of these channels is, however, regulated by a swinging gate W pivoted to and forming the inner end of each partition, the construction of which is shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 7.

A strip of sheet metal or of thin wood is hinged at the lower end to the end of the partition to swing at the upper free end sidewise or across the flow of the pulp to set at a greater or less angle to the stream, so that the approach to the inlet of the channel can be enlarged or contracted by moving these gates accordingly. These different angular positions of the hinged gates are maintained by suitable catches or holding means at the upper end. In the present construction I hold them by introducing a wedge W between the top edge of the gate and a stationary bridge or strip U, fixed across the top of the sluice. I

a have found this both a simple and an effective means of fixing the gates in any position. Under the lower end of the channels in this distributenclose to the surface of the belt 0,

1 set an equalizing-tray Z, having separate compartments with sloping bottoms equal in number to the channels in the distributer and so fixed on the shaking-frame that it has vibratorymotion with the concentrator-belt under the mouths of the distributing-channels. The form of this tray -Z is shown in the plan Fig. 2 and in vertical longitudinalsection in Fig. 6.

In the bottom of each compartment or depression in the tray a row of outlet-holes are made lengthwise ofthe concentratorbelt, through which thepulp is discharged in a thin stream upon the belt. r

In the longitudinal section it will be seen that the bottom of the tray is formed with alternating ridges and depressions with plane .sgrfaccs sloping from the ridge'to'the depression, so that each compartment is a V-shaped from the channelabove it.

shell or trough with outlet-apertures in the an gle at the bottom, and each compartment, when the shaking-frame is 011 the center or midway between the two extremes of the vibratory motion, is under and in line with the mouth of a distributing-channel above. The distance between the ridges of the compartment is also somewhat greater than the lateral movement of the tray beneath the mouth of the channel, and consequently eaclrcompartm'ent will receive and deposit equally upon the bolt the pulp which, is discharged Thus the pulp as divided and distributed by the channel-is discharged and spread upon the surface of cure by Letters Patent, is-

the belt in ,the same equal manner by these compartments. This mode of depositing the pulp in separate parallel streams at intervals apart and lengthwise of the belt'is proditctive 1.

of much better results than where the pulp machine, whereas in the other mode of feeding in a single stream across the face of the belt without such intervals being left'it is found that I the. sulfurets are liable to be washed back, and their passage to andpver the head of the machine is obstructed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, therein, and desire to se- 1. In an ore-concentrator, the

the concentrating-belt therein, mechanism for giving lateral vibrating movement to said shaking-frame, and for giving the said belt progressive movement in its frame, and spring-legs each having a straight top and a. straight bottom member and a bent middle portionuniting said members and formed of" an inwardly-set and an outwardly-set curve in the same vertical plane as described, said legs being rigidly secured at their upper ends to the shaking-frame and rigidly fastened to the stationary frame at their lower ends, and the legs carrying one side of the frame being oppositely set to those on the opposite side of the frame.

2. In an ore-concentrator, the stationary frame composed of the recessed corner-posts, thetop cross-bars, and the side bars; in combination with the shaking-frame, spring-,legs fixed at their lower ends in said recessed posts, the adjustable blocks haying soclgets to receive the ends of said legs arid the bolts adapted to secure said legs in the socket and to-fasten said block to the post, and the wedge fitted between a fixed bearing on the recessed eration as described.

combination of the stationary frame, the shaking frame,

IIC

3. The combination, with the concentrat- I ing-belt, of the carrying-roller and the conical heads, each having a central hub fitting over the end of the roller and adjustable longitudinally thereon, an outwardly-extending end of the roller as a means of securing the conical head in place.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set myhand and seal.

f GEORGE E. WOODBURY. [1,. s.]

Witnesses:

EDWARD E. OsBoRN, M. REGNER.

, flan go and a collar and set-screw fitted to the 

